mcgeath



(No Model.)

J, MOGRATH.

HEAD BEST FOR GOPPINS.

No. 378,207. Patented Feb. 21, 1888.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

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J OH\ MGGRATH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HEAD-REST FOR COFFINS.

$PECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 378,207, dated February 21, 1888.

Application filed August 8, 1887. Serial No. 248,427. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN MGGRATH, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Corpse Head- Rest, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invent-ion relates to an improved headrest for a corpse, and has for its object to provide an attachment to an ice-box, enibalniing-board, or dissecting-table, whereby the head of a corpse may be inclined, as desired, and the month he held closed.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation illustrating its application,

In carrying out the invention the rectangular base A is provided upon its upper face with a series of transverse integral projections, a, whcrebya substantially-racked surface is pro duced. Centrally to the base at one end a horizontal neck, B, is attached or cast integral therewith, near the end of which neck one end of a curved plate, 0, is attached, the other end of the plate being adapted to project over and beyond the base.

The plate 0 is formed longitudinally with a double curve, whereby the said plate is adapted to the contour of the neck and rear portion of the head, as illustratcdin Fig. 2. By reason of this double curve that portion of. the plate adapted to receive thehead when not supported above the base will rest thereon. Thus the back of the head and shoulders will be in essentialy the same plane.

Near the free end of the main plate 0, and transversely of the same, a concave or segmental plate, 1), of spring metal is rigidly secured, which concave or segmental plate is adapted to embrace the head of the subject at or above the ears, and to the ends of the transverse concave plate, upon the outer side, a strap, H, of any suitable material-"such as webbing or rubber-is detachably connected in any approved manner, preferably by buttoniug the strap at its ends over lugs b integral with the plate. The strap is adapted to pass over the chin of the subject and keep the mouth in a closed position, and to suit various subjects a series of button-holes may be provided each end of the strap.

To the main plate C,beneath the transverse concave plate D,a bar, d, is secured having its ends cl turned upward at right angles to engage the under surface of the transverse plate 3 D, and provided with a recess, (1, in its upper edge, as shown in Fig. 1, and in said recess one end oi a supporting-frame, E, is pivoted, the other end being adapted to engage the racked surface of the base. The said supportingframe consists of two parallel bars, e, united by transverse rods (2, and the pivotal connection with the bar (Z is effected through lugs cast integral with the inner side of the bars 0 at the top and at right angles thereto.

In operation, the device may be attached by screws or otherwise to an embahning-board or ice-box, and the head of the subject is laid thereon, as shown in Fig, 2, the strap passing over the chin, and the head may be raised at i any inclination by raising the main plate G and allowing the ends of the supporting-frame to engage a suitable projection on the base; or the head may be laid in aplane with the body by throwing the ends of the supportingfranie off the base and permitting the side bars, c, to rest upon said base.

When used in connection with a dissectingtable in adjusting the head,as the device is not attached to the marble slab, one hand is employed to hold the device steady and the other to manipulate the supporting-frame, as indicated in Fig. 2.

The device may also be used with good effect in connection with operating-tables, in which event ,the strap may or may not be used, as desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A head-rest for a corpse, consisting of a base, a longitudinal curved plate attached to said base adapted to the contour of the neck and head, a concave plate transversely attached to said curved plate, and means for vertically tudinal plate attached to said base curved to conform to the contour of the neck and head, a concave spring-plate secured transversely to the longitudinal plate,provided With a detachable chin-strap, and a frame pivoted beneath the longitudinal plate, adaptedto engage the racked surface of the base, substantially as and 20 for the purposes herein set forth.

JOHN MOGRATH.

Witnesses:

J F. ACKER, Jr., 0. SEDeWIcK. 

